Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Presentation of 47th Jnanpith Award to Dr. Pratibha Ray
Thank you for your words of welcome. It is a great pleasure to be amongst the distinguished literary personalities present here today. I recognize among you many friends and I am delighted to see you present on this occasion.

As I stand here to deliver the Convocation Address for the third time in Himachal Pradesh University, I notice the same exhilaration and excitement in the students. Convocation day marks the completion of an extremely important phase in the life of an individual.
I am extremely happy to be here in Shimla to deliver the First Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Lecture. Nearly five decades ago, my predecessor Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan inaugurated the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS).
It gives me great pleasure to be here today for the inauguration of Maharaja Agrasen University, which is an outcome of the vision, commitment and effort of the Maharaja Agrasen Technical Education Society.
I am indeed happy to have this opportunity today for the Seventh Convocation of the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), a premier Institute of higher learning in defence related engineering and technology.
I am indeed happy to be here this afternoon to attend the First Convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University. This is a long awaited and proud moment for all the distinguished students who have received degrees.
I am happy to be here to participate in the first convocation of the National Law University Delhi (NLUD).
Ladies and Gentleman,
It is indeed a privilege for me to be here to present the National Awards for Outstanding Services in the field of Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse.